Production line workers go full out to make face masks and protective clothing at Jiangsu Guangda Medical Material Co in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on Jan 27. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

On Jan 27 -- the third day of the Chinese New Year -- workers at the Jiangsu Guangda Medical Material Co in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province cut short their holidays to plunge back into producing protective clothing and face masks urgently needed in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

According to the head of the production department, the company mainly produces operations towels which were exported to the US. But in response to the outbreak it suspended the export production lines, with all staff now focusing on the output of protective clothing and face masks.

Nantong is currently facing an acute shortage of masks as stocks flew off the shelves and factories were unable to replace them fast enough, with most workers returning to their hometowns for the Spring Festival.

Now, in a bid to meet the massive demand, many other face mask factories around the city have also summoned back their workers and restarted operations early during the holiday period.